Kirkland tosses complete-game shutout in 1-0 Unionville win

To Unionville pitcher Noah Kirkland,
peering in to his catcher Henry Goodier at the start of Monday's game
against Octorara at Unionville must have felt like he was throwing
through a snow globe.

The weather, usually a major player in
early-season baseball, was of little concern to Kirkland, however, as
the senior pitcher battled through harsh conditions and a few tough
innings to record a 1-0, complete-game shutout, behind smart fielding
and a lone run that was manufactured by the Indians' Kyle Lyons.

“It was pretty cold today, but I just
hit my spots and everything just seemed to work itself out,” said
Kirkland, who is headed to Mount St. Mary's next year. “I really
try to spot my fastball first, and try to get some ground balls with
it, and the breaking ball comes second. But it was really my fastball
that got me through today.”

As persistent flakes dotted the field
throughout the game, it was determined early on that the pitching of
Kirkland and Braves' starter Aaron Feld would yield a pitchers' duel
and not a slugfest, as both pitchers tossed shutout ball through the
first few innings. Kirkland gave up a one-out single to Matt
Rudisill, who advanced to third base on a double by Jude Unitis that
went over the head of center fielder Joe Zubillaga. Kirkland then
struck out Jack Jobe and got leadoff batter Andy Imbierwicz to ground
out to end the threat.

Meanwhile, Feld cruised early in the
game, striking out the side in the first inning and surrendering just
one hit through the first three innings. He surrendered the game's
only run in the fourth inning, when Unionville's leadoff batter Kyle
Lyons worked a walk, stole second, scampered to third on a wild pitch
by Feld, and scored on an infield groundout by Zubillaga.

Octorara started another scoring threat
in the top of the sixth, when Johnny Cummings led off with a bunt
single. Rudisill then bunted back to Kirkland, who tossed to backup
first baseman Peter Murphy for the out, but in a bang-bang play that
preserved Unionville's win, Murphy saw Cummings turn second in an
attempt to get to third, and fired a cross-the-field bullet to third
baseman Nick Samulewicz, who slapped the tag on Cummings to complete
the double-play and end the scoring threat.

“My defense is always great and my
teammates are always picking me up,” said Kirkland, who struck out
two batters in the top of the seventh inning. “I always trust that
Peter is going to come off the bench and perform just as well as the
starters, and I am happy that he and the rest of my teammates could
play well behind me today.”

In
absorbing the defeat, Feld surrendered just two singles– to Alex
Pelegrin and Samulewicz – while striking out 11.

With the win, coach Mike Magee's
Indians improved to 4-2 on the season, placing them in the middle of
a crowded field of teams in the Ches-Mont who sport a winning record.
On April 11, they play their cross-town rival Kennett at Kennett High
School, then come back home on April 13 against Great Valley. The
loss gave Octorara a 1-4 record on the season, with the chance to
improve their mark when they play host to Kennett on April 13.